When You Turn to God

It has been all too long since my last post. We still have unpacked boxes in the basement from our move. I have been quite busy here in Stanzel. I have been visiting the people, preparing messages, unpacking, getting settled; I even performed a wedding already, Saturday, July 18. Things are going well and we absolutely love it here. It is beautiful with hills and trees, a lake, and wildlife passing through our yard; deer, turkeys, geese, and big and beautiful turkey buzzards soaring over head and perching on top of the church. You might recall that last time we started with the first chapter of Jonah. So let's jump into chapter two.

We all from time to time have problems enter our lives, problems that seem way beyond our ability to cope. Those great problems may be financial. They may be health issues. Maybe it is a physical injury you are dealing with. For some it is a moral problem. For others perhaps a problem with stress. Whatever problem you may be facing, there is no question that it is beyond your knowledge or ability to cope. God says, “That’s alright. Just turn to Me and trust Me. I will see you through whatever it is.” The key is turning to God.

In Jonah chapter 2 we find Jonah inside the belly of a “great fish” (1:17). Talk about a problem that is beyond your ability to cope! What did Jonah do? “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God form the fish’s belly” (2:1). The rest of this chapter (vs. 2-9) relates the content of Jonah’s prayer, along with the results in verse 10.

Jonah began with confession. “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,” he prayed (v. 2a). Jonah knew why he ended up where he did. He fully understood that the Lord God was disciplining him for his rebellion against God. He was in the belly of the great fish because he had tried to run from God and His will. He had hoped to hide from God, though that proved to be impossible. Recognizing God’s purpose for the problem he faced, he did the right thing. He turned to God.

Jonah cried out, “I have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple” (v. 4). He went on, “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple” (v. 7). He made a commitment proving his repentance and the fact of his turning back to God. In verse 9 he said, “But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”

Jonah turned to God and God restored Jonah to Himself. Jonah said, “And He answered me… And You heard my voice” (v. 2b). Later Jonah wrote, “Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God” (v. 6b). And most importantly, the end result in Jonah’s life: “So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (v. 10).

When you face problems that seem beyond your ability to cope, remember the lesson Jonah learned. First, it may very well be from God. Perhaps you have been running from Him and He is bringing discipline into your life to turn you back toward Him. Second, if so, repent. Turn to God and He will restore your relationship with Him as He intended it to be from the start. God loves you and He wants you to live your life for Him. He can empower you for just such a life, but you must first quit running from Him and turn back to Him. Do this and He will renew His fellowship with you. He will also see you through the problem you face, no matter what it is. Amen.

When You Run from God

It has been a long time. I should do better now at making entries. Barb and I have moved to Stanzel, Iowa where I am the new pastor of Bethel Baptist Church. The church and parsonage sit on a quiet thirty acre estate with a private lake on the property just down the hill from the parsonage. There are often geese on the lake and there is great fishing. The lake has lots of Bass, Carp, and Hybrid Bluegill. Deer are often seen running through our yard. It is a great setting. But now let's begin to look at Jonah.

Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (53:6). The message is true. Every one of us has at some time and in some way run away from God. We have rebelled and tried to hide from God. Yet, though undeserved, God laid the punishment we deserved upon Jesus. Jesus died on the cross in our place to bring us forgiveness and reconciliation to God.

Still, so many continue to run and try to hide from God. Like the prophet Jonah, we do not want to do as God directs us, but instead we flee from God and hide. The story goes something like this: God told Jonah to “arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me” (1:2). Instead, Jonah fled “from the presence of the Lord” (v. 3) and ran away from God and all that God wanted him to do. He boarded a ship and headed for Tarshish. He even went to the lowest part of the ship thinking that God could not find him there, and fell asleep. His conscience was so seared that he slept right through a great storm that rocked the boat and threaten to sink it along with all aboard (vs. 4-5).

The Scripture tells us that the sailors did not know the true God, so they cried out in fear to various false gods and they threw the cargo overboard “to lighten the load” (v. 5). As the storm continued, they discovered that perhaps Jonah could enlighten them as to the nature of the problem (vs. 7-8). Jonah confessed that His God was the true God, the maker of “the sea and the dry land” (v. 9), and that he was running “from the presence of the Lord” (v. 10). Jonah told them to “throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me” (v. 12). They tried not to do it, but in the end they gave in and threw Jonah overboard, and indeed the sea became calm again (v. 15).

The end result for these sailors was a new found faith in the true God (v. 16). For Jonah, however, it was three days and three nights in the belly of a “great fish” which had swallowed him (v. 17). The lesson learned from Jonah is that it does not pay to run and hide from God. He will find you and He will discipline you in whatever way necessary to secure your repentance and bring you back to Him.

How many times and in how many ways do we try to run from God or to hide from Him? We don’t attend church because we “have better things to do.” We avoid certain people because they remind us of the Lord, or perhaps even talk to us about God. We see the pastor or a deacon coming and, because we haven’t been in church lately, we turn and go the other way. We avoid God and hide from Him in any way we can. We simply turn and flee “from the presence of the Lord” (v. 3) in hopes that He won’t find us.

Psalm 139:7-12 tells us clearly that there is no place we can go where God will not find us. As He did with Jonah, He may bring hardship into our lives in some way because we are running from Him. The purpose is to bring you to repentance and to bring you back to Him. Let God into your life and follow Him. That is what Jonah learned and we should learn it too. Amen.

The Chariot of Israel and Its Horsemen!

In 2 Kings 2:1-15 we have what might be called the changing of the guard. It speaks of faith. It shows faith in action. God leads and we follow by faith. As we walk by faith and do everything out of faith, we are also blessed by faith. In Hebrews 11:1 faith is defined: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (NASB). Faith is not dead or idle; faith is living and active.

In our text here, we see this “faith principle” at work in the relationship between Elijah and his understudy Elisha. In this time of transition, as the torch is passed from Elijah to Elisha, we see how our faith is built.

Elisha’s faith is tested as he and Elijah make their way to the Jordan. The text says simply, “When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal” (v. 1).

As they walked along, “Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel” (v. 2). Elijah was following the path the Lord set for him and Elisha followed Elijah's lead. The faithful do not turn back from following the Lord.

Twice more the same scenario was repeated. Elisha responded the same each time. At every turn, Elijah and Elisha passed the test. Would you turn back, given the chance? Is God testing your faith? When He directs your path, do you follow and go where He leads and do what He says? Or do you tend to turn back and stay put? Do you stick with the familiar, even though you know that God is leading you to step out for him? Perhaps He wants you to talk with a neighbor about Jesus. Are you faithful to do so? Do you pass the test?

At each city they met with “the sons of the prophets.” They met with them at Bethel (v. 3) and at Jericho (v. 5). Note verse 5: “Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, ‘Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?’ So he answered, ‘Yes, I know; keep silent!’”

Twice these students challenged Elisha, both at Bethel and twelve miles downhill from there at Jericho, about a half day’s journey. So these challenges from “the sons of the prophets” likely occurred on consecutive days. Twice Elisha responded positively. He fully accepted God’s challenge for him.

Elijah, who is still our main character in this study, was also tested. And he, likewise, accepted God’s challenge. “And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground” (vs. 7-8).

Elijah stepped out in faith and God acted. When you step out in faith and follow His lead, God acts. He may even perform a miracle to accomplish His will. He just wants you to accept His challenge, step out in faith, and follow His lead.

“And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?’ Elisha said, ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.’ So he said, ‘You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so’” (vs. 9-10). His request runs deep. It came straight from the heart. What Elisha wanted more than anything else in life was to serve the Lord with all of his heart.

By asking for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah, he was not asking for twice as much of the Holy Spirit or for a ministry that was twice as great as Elijah’s. He was asking for a greater measure of the inner spirit that Elijah had. What he felt he needed above all else was more of the inner strength, courage, and faithfulness that Elijah had.

Suddenly Elijah found himself looking straight into the face of Jesus. He was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind being accompanied by chariots and horses of fire. “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (v. 11). Elijah’s faith was rewarded.

Elijah was transported to heaven without seeing physical death. Only Enoch had a similar experience: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24); no one else either before or since. It is a picture of the rapture spoken of by Paul when many more believers will be “caught up…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:17).

What an exciting time that will be! Enoch “walked with God” and received this reward. Elijah was faithful and he received this reward. If you believe in the Lord and walk with him, you too will be raptured one day and “be caught up…in the clouds” to see Jesus face to face. Oh how marvelous!

Elijah was raptured and saw Jesus face to face. Elisha saw him go and was rewarded with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. “And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, ‘My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!’ So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces” (v. 12). One day he too would see Jesus. For now he is empowered for his work in the Lord.

Rending his clothes (v. 12) is a way of acknowledging that he is a new man. “He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan” (v. 13). To receive Elijah’s mantle or his cloak was a sign of adoption. Elisha was the heir to Elijah’s ministry and he was endowed with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He went on to perform twice as many miracles as did Elijah.

Taking up Elijah’s mantle, Elisha showed that he was ready to take up Elijah’s ministry as well. He began by using Elijah’s mantle in performing his first miracle—parting the waters of the Jordan to cross over again on dry land: “Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, ‘Where is the Lord God of Elijah?’ And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over” (v. 14).

This is the fourth time God parted the waters—the second time that day! And the point was not missed. The God of Elijah still lives. God is not dead. Those who say He is have simply got it wrong. The God of Elijah still lives and the parting of the water proved it. It also proved that God rested in Elisha.

God’s people recognize when God is with you and they acknowledge it. “Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, ‘The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.’ And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him” (v. 15).

The faithful walk with God. Elijah walked with God and he was raptured to meet Jesus in the air. Elisha has taken up Elijah’s mantle and he is walking with God, as seen in his parting of the Jordan. “The sons of the prophets” follow their lead and they are walking with God. So we too must follow after Elijah and walk with God, all the while looking to the sky as we go in anticipation of that great and glorious day when we will be raptured, when we will be “caught up…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Amen.

Go and Tell!

"From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised" (Psalm 113:3). I hope all of you experienced an Easter Sunrise Service this morning. It is so invigorating, so exiting to worship right at sunrise, knowing it was early in the morning that first Easter Sunday that Jesus rose from the dead, defeating even death.

Because of the resurrection we have life. In fact, without the resurrection, we would have nothing. The Bible says, "If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (1 Cor. 5:14). But Christ did rise from the dead. The proof is overwhwelming; the witnesses plentiful.

Paul states plainly: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time." (1 Cor. 15:3-8)

Follow the evidence of Scripture and you will know the truth and you will praise the Lord "from the rising of the sun to its setting" (Psalm 113:3) every day. Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph, but soon the scribes and the Pharisees turned the people against Him. Refusing to believe the truth that He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, they had Him crucified. A horrible death!

But that wasn't the end of the story. There was hope; an unbelievable and certain hope for all who believe. And that hope is Jesus. He isn’t dead. He’s alive! He rose from the dead the third day and He now lives inside of everyone who believes. He is there to empower you to live a life of righteousness. By faith you are saved. By faith you live the resurrected life in Jesus Christ.

When Mary and the other women came to the tomb early that first Easter morning they encountered an angel. He told them to "come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matt. 28:6b). They looked into the tomb. It was empty. They had witnessed the crucifixion. They had seen Jesus die on the cross. They watched the centurion pierce His side with the sword, proving He had died. Yet, now the tomb was empty! What did it all mean?

The angel said, "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (v. 6a). "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold I have told you" (v. 7).

First, the angel told the women to "come, see the place where Jesus lay" (v. 6b). They were to come and see where Jesus was not. He did "lay" there but not any longer. He wasn’t in the grave because He had risen from the dead! The tomb was empty!

I am reminded of that great Christian song Because He Lives, which says, "An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives." And then the chorus continues, "Because He lives I can face tomorrow; Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives." Life. That is what both the cross and the empty grave are all about. The cross provides forgiveness which allows you to live life as God designed it. The resurrection provides life, abundant and eternal. And that life is yours by faith.

The angel told the women, "Come, see" (v. 6b). "Come, see" that Christ has risen. "Come, see" and experience the fact that Jesus is alive. Believe. Place your faith in Him, His death on the cross, and His resurrection. And then live by that same faith. That means telling others. So the women were told to take the truth of the resurrection to Jesus’ disciples so that they too would "come, see" Jesus. In Galilee they would "see" Him (v. 7). Then they too would believe unto salvation. They too would have faith in Jesus. They too would live by that faith.

 That’s what the women did. They ran to tell the disciples (v. 8). And when the women saw Jesus Himself (v. 9), He also told them to take the truth to His disciples (v. 10). When the disciples heard the good news they went to Galilee (v. 16) and there they "saw" Jesus, alive! (v. 17). But take note of one thing. When the women saw Jesus they "worshiped Him" (v. 9b). Also, when the disciples saw Jesus they too "worshiped Him" (v. 17). When you meet the risen Christ by faith you will worship Him and He will give you new life!

When your life has been changed by Jesus you can’t help but tell others. The angel told the women to "go quickly and tell His disciples that He (Jesus) is risen from the dead" (v. 7a). Then Jesus Himself told the women, "Go quickly and tell" (v. 10a). Later Jesus told the disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (v. 19a). All who believe are to "go quickly and tell." Whatever you do, "go quickly and tell."

Matthew 28:18-20 is known throughout the church as The Great Commission. Starting with the women, Jesus has commanded all of His people to "go quickly and tell." Tell your family, friends, and neighbors about Jesus and the power of the cross. Tell them about the resurrection and the life He gives to all who believe. Tell everyone you come in contact with. And tell them in the power and name of Jesus. He has "all authority…in heaven and on earth" (v. 18). He gives that authority to you and He empowers you, as you give witness to Him. Amen.

Infallible Proof of the Resurrection

The burial of Jesus is a story in itself that guarantees proof of the resurrection on Sunday. His disciples attended to the burial on Friday evening before sundown, but His enemies took care of the critical details on Saturday. They saw to it that there could be no deception. If the body was gone on Sunday morning, then Jesus had risen indeed!

With Jesus lying in the grave on Saturday it would seem that not much was happening that day. But nothing could be further from the truth. A lot was happening. Scripture tells us that while Jesus' body was dead He was very much alive in the spirit and He was quite busy. In 1 Peter 3:18-19 we read, "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison."

In Ephesians, Paul quotes Psalm 68:18, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men" (Eph. 3:8). He then continues, "Now this expression, 'He ascended,' what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things" (vs. 9-10).

Peter then sheds light onn the phrase, "He also descended into the lower parts of the earth" with the words, "He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison" (1 Pet. 3:19). During His three days in the tomb, Jesus did not preach the gospel, but He made a triumphant announcement to the demons being held in Sheol, the place of torment. These are the angels that sinned in Genesis 6:2-5 and were then cast into hell to await judgment (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). To them Jesus proclaimed His victory over sin and death.

Jesus then opened the doors to another part of Sheol known as "Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:22-23) or "Paradise" (Luke 23:43), releasing the godly captives and leading them to heaven where they are now with Jesus (Eph. 3:8). So Saturday was a busy time for Jesus and a time of great triumph. But it was also a busy time among men in Jerusalem.

"Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed." (Matt. 27:57-60)

Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of Jesus, saw to it that Jesus received a proper burial before sundown that Friday. It was imperative by Jewish religious law that He be buried before the Sabbath began at sundown. Some of the women were there observing where He was laid to rest so they knew where to come after the Sabbath, first thing Sunday morning: "And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb" (v. 61). Everything was done by the book on Friday evening, and that was a good thing.

On Saturday the chief priests and the Pharisees got busy. They understood that Jesus claimed He would rise from the dead the third day. They wanted to prevent any deception by His disciples and try to keep Him in the grave, so they went to work: "On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, 'Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, "After three days I will rise." Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, "He has risen from the dead." So the last deception will be worse than the first.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard." (Matt. 27:62-66)

By sealing the tomb with the Roman seal and by setting a Roman guard they provided infallible proof of the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday morning. Whether by special detachment of Roman sooldiers or by use of the guard already at their disposal, the guard that was set was made up of well trained, combat ready Roman soldiers making it impossible for the disciples to steal the body. The Roman seal also guaranteed that no one would steal the body because to break the seal was punishable by death. So the empty tomb on Sunday morning left no doubt that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. Everyone knew it. It was not hidden. Let us rejoice in Jesus, our risen Savior! Amen.

One Thief to Another

Philippians 2:6-11 lays out the core of the gospel of Christ. That work of Christ culminated at the cross on Good Friday. Verses 6-7 tell us that God’s provision for man’s salvation began at Christmas when God became a man: “Christ Jesus…being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

That work of God was finished at the cross when Jesus died for the sins of men, your sins and mine. The penalty you deserved to pay, was paid for you by Jesus at the cross. Going on, Paul writes, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (v. 8).

The capstone of our salvation occurred on Easter morning: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (vs. 9-11). God raised Jesus from the dead, defeating even death, and He ascended into heaven from where He will return and everyone will have no choice but to bow before Him and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Place yourself for a moment at the foot of the cross. On that Good Friday, as we stand looking up at Jesus who is there on the cross, we notice that He is not alone. There are two others, two thieves hanging on crosses beside Him: “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left” (Luke 23:32-33).

A conversation that takes place between these three on the crosses. That conversation reveals the truth of the cross. That conversation reveals the fact that the cross divides all people into two groups. The two groups are defined by the two thieves and their response to the cross of Christ. One responds with mocking, the other with praise. All people since respond in one of two ways, with mocking or with praise. The question is, in which group are you?

To mock Jesus is to reject Him, and it didn’t begin with the thief on the cross. It began with the leaders of the people and the soldiers. Both Jew and Gentile alike joined together to crucify and then to ridicule and mock Jesus. “And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.’ The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself’” (vs. 35-37). It even spread to the people: “And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross’” (Matt. 27:39-40).

The people were “wagging their heads,” sneering at Jesus on the cross. They were looking down their noses at Him assuming He was finished. But He wasn’t. Only the work He came to do was finished, as He later declared from the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). They derided Him and mocked Him. They made fun of Him and told what they thought were jokes because they thought the joke was on Him. But it wasn’t.

Even one of the criminals joined in and “blasphemed” Jesus (Luke 23:39a). He even spoke about salvation: “If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us,” (v. 39b). To blaspheme God means to use words or conduct that injures God’s honor and holiness. That is what this criminal did. He was not repenting or seeking God’s grace and mercy in any way. He was using these words flippantly in direct ridicule of Jesus. He was announcing to all the fact that he did not believe in Jesus. That would be his final undoing.

As we see at the foot of the cross, so many people refuse to understand the gospel of Christ and believe. They choose instead the way of destruction as they openly rebel against God and Christ. So many people reject Jesus and the way of the cross. So many people only mock Jesus with their words, their lifestyles, and in so many ways. These are the real blasphemers, because they deny Jesus’ messianic claims. They revile and mock Him instead, like the people at the cross.

The other thief took a much different approach, both in how he acted and in what he believed. One thief to another: “But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong’” (vs. 40-41). He recognized who Jesus was and he responded accordingly.

This thief knew he was a sinner and that Jesus was without sin. He knew that he deserved to die for his sin and that Jesus did not. So it seems he understood why Jesus was dying. He understood that Jesus was dying for him, that he might be forgiven and have eternal life with Jesus. So he turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (v. 42).

This thief sought salvation in terms of repentance and mercy. He understood what was happening and he responded in faith. He believed on Jesus and was saved. Salvation literally at the cross! This is what Good Friday is all about. Note Jesus’ promise to this believing thief: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (v. 43).

It was then that Jesus cried out, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit’” (v. 46, quoted from Psalm 31:5). And He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30b). Then “bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30c). At that point Luke tells us, “When the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous Man!’ And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned” (Luke 23:47-48).

There are still but two responses to the work of the cross. The centurion “saw” and believed and “glorified God” (v. 47). The rest of the crowd of people “seeing what had been done” (the earthquake, the darkness, and the sufferings of Jesus), “beat their breasts” (v. 48), a sign of alarm, fear, and anguish. But they did not repent. We are told they merely “returned” (v. 48b). They went home and said, “Oh, well. Who cares?” They certainly did not. They refused to believe and they continued in their attitude of mocking Jesus. A few praised God for the cross of Christ, but many more did not.

As we stand at the foot of the cross, this redeemed thief turns to us and asks, “What about you? Which side are you on? Are you with that other thief who rejects Jesus and His cross? Are you with those people who ridicule and mock Jesus? Do you blaspheme Jesus with your words or your lifestyle, with what you say or with what you do?

Or do you stand with the few who believe? Do you recognize who Jesus really is? Do you realize that He is the Savior? Do you understand why He died? Do you believe that Jesus died for you? Do you believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sin so that you might have life in His name, abundant life now as well as life eternal? Have you repented? Have you turned away from your sin and sought God’s mercy at the cross of Jesus? I pray you have. Amen.

Lord, Is It I

History is strewn with people whose lives were left in shambles because they chose to oppose God. History is strewn with people whose lives were left in shambles because, though they glibly claimed to “believe in God,” they actually followed Satan by choosing to live a life of sin and rebellion against God.

On Thursday of that week things took an interesting twist. Judas Iscariot had plotted with the chief priests to betray Jesus (Matt. 26:14-16). Everything was already set in motion by the time Jesus and His disciples entered the upper room and prepared to eat the Passover meal together (vs. 17-20). Good and evil were about to collide in historic proportions. Everything about this week points to the cross and the cross represents the triumph of good over evil.

Even before Judas plotted his evil deed with the chief priests, Jesus prepared His disciples for the work He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. He was headed to the cross (Matt. 26:2).

Early on Thursday morning, Jesus gave specific instructions to His disciples concerning where they should make ready for Him to eat the Passover meal (vs. 17-19). They were to “go into the city” and find “a certain man.” From the other two synoptic gospels we learn that the man would be carrying a pitcher of water (Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10). That would have set him apart noticeably, because it was highly unusual for a man to do that kind of work.

When they found him, they were to “say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples”’” (Matt. 26:18). In the phrase, “My time is at hand,” “time” is not the Greek word which refers to a general space or succession of time, but rather the word which refers to a specific and often predetermined period or moment of time.

Jesus’ “time” was also, of course, the Father’s time, the divinely appointed time when the Son would offer Himself as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. It is time for good and evil to clash in the battle of all battles and for good to triumph over evil, bringing you salvation.

Until now that monumental time had not come and could not have come because Jesus‘ work on earth had not yet been finished. But at this particular Passover it could not fail to come, because it was divinely ordained and fixed. That last Passover supper would set in motion the final, irreversible countdown, as it were, for the crucifixion.

Imagine that day at the cross and what the disciples must have been going through. The things they must have thought! The Lord Jesus hanging on the cross, dying. The fear of being arrested and perhaps even crucified themselves. Peter denied Him three times (Matt. 26:69-75). The others scattered and fled (Mark 14:27). Only John (John 19:26-27) and some of the women (Matt. 27:55) remained near the cross.

The disciples likely thought about the events of the week: the joyous entry into Jerusalem, clearing the temple of the money changers, all the teaching, and then the Passover celebration and sharing in the first Lord’s Supper.

Oh, the Lord’s Supper! That is where the trouble all began. Jesus said someone would betray Him; they did. He said He would be crucified; He was. If they only knew what was coming first thing Sunday morning! What they did know was that Jesus said, “One of you will betray me” (Matt 26:21). Taken by surprise, they all thought, “Surely, not!” Yet each disciple searched his heart and one by one they all asked, “Lord, is it I” (v. 22).

But Judas! He was surprised too, surprised that Jesus knew! He pretended to be pious like the others and asked, "Rabbi, is it I?" "Rabbi," not "Lord?" He simply did not believe. To him Jesus' response was pure and simple, "You have said it" (v. 25).

A question has been posed over and over again throughout the ages: Who killed Jesus? Was it the Jews? Was it the Romans? Certainly they were all involved. But when I think about this, I have to ask one question: "Lord, is it I?" And the Lord would have to answer, "Yes, it is you." Not because I oppose God; I do not. And not because I give assent to His claims while not really believing; I do believe! It is because of my sin. Jesus died because of my sin!

Each of you must ask the same question, "Lord, is it I."  And to each of you Jesus would answer, just as he did me, "Yes, it is you." It was because of your sin that Jesus died on the cross. He died in your place, for your forgiveness. He died to give you eternal life through faith in Him. Trust Him and you will have life in His name. Amen.